CROOKSTON, Minn. – The University of Minnesota Crookston women's basketball team will open up their 2021-22 season with an exhibition Sunday, October 31 at 2 p.m. against NCAA Division I foe University of Minnesota at Williams Arena in Minneapolis, Minn.

Minnesota Crookston at Minnesota
Sunday, October 31 – 2 p.m.
Williams Arena – Minneapolis, Minn.
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Minnesota Crookston is coming off a 3-13 (3-11 NSIC) mark during the COVID-19 shortened 2020-21 season. The Golden Eagles have a veteran squad with seven players returning who averaged 10 or more minutes per game last season. UMN Crookston is senior-led with the return of Kylie Post (Sr., G, Corcoran, Minn.), Mary Burke (Sr., F, Virginia, Minn.), and Kylea Praska (Sr., G, Thief River Falls, Minn.). Post averaged 9.3 points and 4.0 rebounds per game as a junior. Post hit at a 38.5 percent clip from behind the three-point line. Burke tallied 9.0 points and 2.4 rebounds per game and shot 39.7 percent from beyond the arc. Praska came off the bench for 11.0 minutes per game as a junior.

UMN Crookston also returns Bren Fox (R-Jr., F/C, Norwood Young America, Minn.), who started three games last season. She tallied 10.1 points and 5.5 rebounds per game. Jes Mertens (So., G/F, Devils Lake, N.D.) returns after earning NSIC All-Defensive and All-Freshman accolades. Mertens tallied 10.3 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game as a freshman. Mertens was a 38.2 percent shooter from distance. Emma Carpenter (Jr., G, Eagan, Minn.) is back after tallying 7.0 points and 2.0 assists per game as a sophomore. Carpenter shot 38.8 percent from beyond the arc last season.

Haylee Wheeler (So., F, Lakeville, Minn.) returns for the Golden Eagles after starting seven games as a freshman. Wheeler notched 4.8 points and 2.9 rebounds per game last season. Eden Golliher (So., F, Iron River, Mich.)) is back after notching 2.0 points and 2.0 rebounds per game last season. Veronica Schwartz (Jr., G/F, Parkers Prairie, Minn.) also returns after appearing in seven games. Mattea Vetsch (R-So., G, Devils Lake, N.D.) missed last season due to injury.

The Golden Eagles will also look to several key newcomers to add to their squad for the 2021-22 season. UMN Crookston has added length and versatility to the group with Abi Fraaza (Fr., F, Birnamwood, Wis.), Abigail Leach (Jr., G/F, Wyoming, Minn.), Lily Orazem (Fr., G, Onamia, Minn.) and Alex Page (Fr., F, Grand Forks, N.D.).

The two squads have a family connection Sunday as UMN Crookston Head Coach Mike Roysland is the father of University of Minnesota assistant coach Kelly (Roysland) Curry, who was a former standout player for the Golden Gophers. Roysland is in his 16^th season at UMN Crookston. Curry is in her fourth season back at the University of Minnesota, after a four-year stint as head coach at Macalester College. Curry was previously at the University of Minnesota for a first stint as an assistant coach prior to her job at Macalester.

Minnesota
The Golden Gophers are in their fourth season under the leadership of Head Coach Lindsey Whalen. Whalen, an all-time Golden Gopher great, led Minnesota to an 8-13 (7-11 Big 10) mark during the 2020-21 season.

Minnesota is guided by guard Jasmine Powell, the Detroit, Mich. native led the Golden Gophers last season with 14.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game. They also return Sara Scalia, who tallied 14.5 points and 3.5 rebounds per tilt. Gadiva Hubbard is also back at guard, after notching 11.1 points per game last season. Alexia Smith also returns for the Golden Gophers. She averaged 4.8 points and 2.7 rebounds per game last season.

In the post, 6-2 junior Kadi Sissoko returns after averaging 12.6 points and 6.6 rebounds per game last season. Junior Klarke Sconiers, a 6-2 post, is back after averaging 6.4 points and 4.0 rebounds per game last season. At forward, Laura Bagwell Katalinich also returns after notching 5.9 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. 6-3 senior Kayla Mershon is back after notching 4.2 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. The Golden Gophers have also added 6-5 University of Kansas transfer Bailey Helgren.